In a twist that has shocked many, former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina finds herself at the center of a high-stakes investigation led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks. According to TimesLIVE, the investigation, prompted by concerns over the legitimacy of Adetshina’s citizenship, is delving into allegations of fraud and identity theft involving her parents.
The spotlight on Adetshina comes after the Department of Home Affairs presented damning evidence to parliament’s home affairs portfolio committee. According to Advocate Constance Moitse, head of the department’s counter-corruption unit, there are strong indications that the identity of an innocent South African woman may have been stolen by someone purporting to be Adetshina’s mother. This fraudulent activity could have led to the wrongful registration of Chidimma as a South African citizen.
Moitse revealed that the department’s evidence, sourced from hospitals, archived records, and municipal documents, points to a legitimate South African woman whose identity was allegedly stolen as part of this elaborate scheme. The investigation has also turned its focus on Adetshina’s father, who reportedly played a role in her birth registration.
The department’s attempt to communicate with Adetshina’s mother has been met with silence. Initial telephonic contact was successful, but subsequent attempts to reach her were ignored. When officials visited her registered home address, they were redirected to her lawyers by family members. The department has since issued a Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) letter to her on August 7, seeking a response that could determine the next legal steps regarding her identity.
As the investigation continues, the department has identified three officials involved in the suspicious registration of Adetshina’s birth. One of these officials has passed away, but the remaining two, who are still employed by the department, are now under scrutiny for their potential involvement in the fraudulent scheme.
The depth of the alleged fraud became apparent when the department uncovered records showing that the true owner of the stolen identity had applied for her ID in 1995. When she returned to the Department of Home Affairs years later, she discovered that her ID had been issued at an office in Johannesburg where she had never applied. To her horror, when she attempted to register her child’s birth in 2001, she was informed that a child—Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina—was already registered under her ID number.
The ongoing investigation not only threatens to expose a complex web of fraud but also raises questions about Adetshina’s future. If the department confirms that her mother obtained her identity fraudulently, Adetshina could lose her South African citizenship
The Department of Home Affairs has released a report and submitted it to parliament on the investigation around Chidimma Adetshina’s citizenship saga. pic.twitter.com/5DSPkQEoTf
— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) August 20, 2024
